Electric switch



Aug. 11, 1925.

W. V. PALEVICH ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 23, 1923 3140mm (0am (1 9M Patented 2 mg. 11, 1925.

\VALTER V. PALEVICH, 0Z3 ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed July 25,

To all whom z't may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER V. PALE- vicir, a citizen of the United States, residing at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates generally to electric switches intended more particularly for use in controlling lamps, the invention having for an object the provision of a simple and novel type of electric switch by which the circuit to any individual one of a series of lamps can be closed, or the circuits to all the lamps closed collectively as may be desired.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

Fig. 1 of the drawing is a plan view of my improved switch.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical sectional View thereof taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of the bridging member.

Fig. i is a horizontal sectional View taken on the line M of Fig. 2.

As here embodied my improved switch comprises a box 10 whose cover 11 may be removably mounted thereon. Extending along inside the box is a vertical flange element 13 which forms a contact member and which is here shown as fixed on an insulating block 1 1 in the box. This contact member 13 is adapted to have connected thereto a common feed wire for all the lamps. .Mounted on the bottom of the box are a number of contact strips 15, as here shown six, which are adapted to be individually connected by suitable wires to the various lamps to be controlled by the switch.

Formed on these contact strips are upwardly projecting resilient fingers 16 which are bowed as shown and are adapted to be selectively engaged in concave recess 17 in one side of a block 18 whose opposite side or face is in contact with the flange member 13, so that when either of these fingers 16 is engaged with this block, which forms a bridging element, the circuit will be closed to the corresponding lamp. Fixed to the 1923. Serial No. 653,077.

top face of the block 18 is a stem 21 which extends upward through a longitudinal slot 22 in the cover 11 and has a knob or head 23 lixed to its upper end. Surrounding this stem 21, and bearing between the top face of the cover 11 and the bottom of the knob 23, is a coiled expansion spring 2 1 which acts to keep the bridging block 18 normally raised above the contact fingers 16.

Formed in one of the side walls of the slot 22 in the cover 11, and spaced along said cover in correspondence with the spacing of the contacts 16 in the box 10, are notches 26 which are adapted to have enga ed therein, when the block 18 is raised by the spring 2% to inoperative position, a lug 27 on the side of the stem 21 whereby the block 18 is held against longitudinal displacement under normal conditions. The parts are so proportioned that the block 18 is held against longitudinal displacement under normal conditions. The parts are so proportioned that the block 18 can be depressed sufficiently to allow the lug 27 to be cleared from the notch 26 in which it may be disengaged without the block making electrical contact with the adjacent finger 16. An insulating plate 30 is preferably mounted on the bottom of the block to prevent electrical contact between block and finger until the former has been depressed sufficiently to have the finger engage the side of the block.

Formed integral with each contact strip 15, and extending transversely over the bottom of the box toward the flange contact 13 is a tongue 32. Fixed at one side to the member 13 and extending at its opposite side over these tongues 32, is a resilient leaf 33 which may be pressed into engagement with these tongues by depressing the block 18 s-uificiently. To retain the block 18 yieldingly in its position of greatest depression a stud 35 is carried thereby and is pressed outwardly by a spring 36 to engage in the adjacent one of a number of rounded recesses 37 in the flange element 13.

It is believed that the manner of use of my improved switch will be readily understood from the above description. When it is desired to close the circuit to any selected lamp the knob 23 is pressed downward to clear the lug 27 from the notch 26 in the wall of slot 22. The block 18 is then moved longitudinally to the desired point and is further depressed to cause the finger 16 to mgage in the recess 17 in the wall of the.

block, the finger pressing into the said recess with sufficient force to prevent spring 24 from lifting the block. If it is desired to close the circuit to all. the lamps together the block 18 is further depressed until the plate 30 on the bottom thereof bears against the leaf 38 and presses the latter into contact with the tongues 32, the stud 35 engaging in the recess 37 and preventing the spring 2& from lifting the block.

lVhile I have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that I do not limit my self to the precise construction herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications might be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to protect by Let ters Patent of the United States is as follows:

1. A switch comprising a box, a contact element extending therealong, a number of contacts arranged in collective parallelism with said first contact, and a bridge block adapted to bridge the space between either of said last named contacts and said first named contact, tongues projecting from said last named contacts, and a leaf projecting from said first named contact and adapted to be moved by said block into engagement with said tongues.

52. A switch comprising a box, a contact element extending therealong, a number of contacts arranged in collective parallelism with said first contact, and a bridge block adapted to bridge the space between either of said last named contacts and said first named contact, said last named contacts having bowed fingers thereon adapted to engage in a concave recess in said block.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

WVALTER V. PALEVICH.

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